SECRETARY-GENERAL VOICES EXTREME CONCERN AT LEVEL OF VIOLENCE,
GROWING CASUALTIES IN ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT
The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:
The Secretary-General is extremely concerned by the level of violence and growing number of casualties in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.� He deplores that during the last weekend at least nine Palestinians and two Israelis were killed in various incidents.
The Secretary-General believes that the most recent upsurge in violence and retaliation only feeds the cycle of mutual anger and hatred that leads to further civilian victims on both sides.� He calls on all Palestinians to stop attacks on Israelis and to pursue non-violent policies.� Equally, the Secretary-General urges the Government of Israel to exercise maximum restraint, in particular refraining from the disproportionate use of force and such actions as extrajudicial killings and demolition of houses.� All parties must understand that there is no military solution to this conflict and that there is no alternative to a political settlement.
The Secretary-General remains convinced that the only way forward towards reviving a sustainable peace process is a firm commitment of the parties to end all violence and to work closely with the Quartet on the basis of its road map to a two-State solution.� In this connection, he welcomes the initiative of Prime Minister Blair to convene a meeting tomorrow on the important issue of Palestinian reform.� The Secretary-General very much regrets that senior Palestinian officials were not allowed to travel to London for this meeting.
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